Police stop Coventry taxis in spot checks
http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2009/11/13/police-stop-coventry-taxis-in-spot-checks-92746-25159510/2/
POLICE stopped dozens of taxi cabs in Coventry last night in a blitz to beat rogue operators.
Operation Watley saw five officers from the Road Policing Unit in Stoney Stanton Road carry out spot checks on taxis at the junction of Foleshill Road and Lockhurst Lane.
They were joined by the city council’s taxi licence officers and members of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) who helped carry out condition checks on more than 30 black cabs and private hire vehicles at the site from 6.30pm yesterday.
PC Dean Wainwright, who led the team, said previous operations had uncovered some shocking vehicle safety lapses.
“We’ve had everything from cabs with no brakes at all to ones with exhaust fumes leaking into the passenger cabin. We’ve also found some running on red diesel,” he said.
“Our multi-agency enforcement checks are an integral part of keeping our communities safe on the roads. We want to ensure that members of the public can be confident of their safety when travelling as taxi passengers.
“We have been successful so far and will continue to target all drivers who choose not to make the roadworthiness of their vehicle a priority.”
Since the operation began two years ago it has found 265 taxis with faults including ones on Nuneaton and Bedworth taxis operating in the city.
PC Wainwright added: “Some of the taxis are immaculate, well looked after and have never had a problem but there are others that don’t retain basic maintenance needs.
"Our aim is to reduce road traffic collisions and if the taxis are no good and we take them off the road it’s good for everybody.”
Police have the power to issue immediate point penalties and fines or take the most serious offenders to court.
The UK Border Agency and council’s benefit fraud team were also on hand to speak to drivers after the operation had previously found cases of taxi drivers claiming considerable sums of benefits.
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